The sale of the business was completed today after administrators were called in on January 9. The move will see retailer ProCook grow its retail estate by more than half, from 37 outlets to 64.

Whilst many jobs were saved in the deal, administrator KPMG explained: “There are 10 underperforming stores, which are not part of the sale and will close immediately. These closures unfortunately result in 79 job losses.”

ProCook owner Daniel O’Neill has said that the business will “endeavour to fill all vacancies across our stores by transferring people from closing [Steamer Trading] stores.”

KPMG added: ‘A further store – trading under the Divertimenti brand in Knightsbridge – has been acquired by Divertimenti Limited. [Steamer Trading Cookshop’s Ben Phillips has bought this store.] Both deals will save 332 jobs.

Steamer Trading acquired Divertimenti in 2016, taking on the flagship store in London's Knightsbridge, the Divertimenti Cookery School (which is housed in the two-storey London store), the brand’s online business and its distribution hub in Worcester.

Steamer had already closed the doors to its Marlow store in 2018 after it was approached by pub chain, Marstons about turning the site into a restaurant and bar. However, those plans were reportedly scrapped, as Marstons then sold the Grade II listed building on to developers for £4.5million.